Reading the Last Verses of Sura Kahf (re: Dajjal)

[Tisatashar]

Assalamu alykom

There are many hadith referring to reading the Last 10 Verses of Sura Kahf for protection against Dajjal. And some hadith say first 10 verses.

Do I read them anytime anywhere or is there a formula - time of day & or frequency etc.

[Ayman bin Khaled]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

My beloved brother,

The most correct view is that the virtue results from the first ten ayaat of Sura Al-Kahf. The other narrations that states last ten Ayaat are troubled and instable due to an Idteraab in the narrators. In addition the context of the ayaat of the first ten is more suitable to the event i.e. protecting us from the Dajjal and that is the view of Ibn Al-Qaiaym and it is supported by the principles of Hadeeth. However, some recent scholars said whichever is recited ( i.e. the begining or the end) is acceptable. So, it is open matter but better stick to the first 10 ayaat.

The virtue does not result by reading or reciting but through understanding and reflecting on the meaning of the ayaat and that is the choice of Al-Nawawi ({رحمه الله).

Wallahu A'lam

[Sawtul Islam]

Assalamu 'alaykum

I actually believe it is the first 3 and the last 10.

"HE WHO RECITES THREE VERSES AT THE BEGINNING OF AL-KHAF WOULD BE PROTECTED FROM THE TRIAL OF THE DAJJAL
(TIRMIDHI)

This is because one Hadith says the first 3 should be read, another says the first 10 and another says the last 10.

The narrations that say the first 10 should be read contradict both the Hadith about the first 3 and the one about the last 10.

In conclusion it must be the firts 3 and last 10, the narrators who said "first 10" confused the two Hadiths together.

Also if you actually read Surah al-Kahf you will find that the first 3 verses are about general issues, and then verse 9 begins with the story of the AsHab al-Kahf.

Why read only the first two verses about AsHab al-Kahf??? Why only the two verses and leave out the rest of the story?

So clearly what the Prophet (saw) must have said was first 3 and last 10

[Ayman bin Khaled]

Assalamu 'alaykum

I actually believe it is the first 3 and the last 10.....

The narrations that say the first 10 should be read contradict both the Hadith about the first 3 and the one about the last 10.

In conclusion it must be the firts 3 and last 10, the narrators who said "first 10" confused the two Hadiths together.

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

My beloved brother,

May Allah reward you for your effort trying answering the question of our beloved brother.

However, I am very much intersted to know on which basis you have generated such view about contradiction. Thus, would you kindly, May Allah reward you, inform me:

why did you say that the Hadeeth that mention the first 10 ayaat is the one that contradict the other two narraions that states first 3 and last ten ayaat?

why is it not the other way around? Like, why did not you say; the narration that says first 3 and last ten contradict the narration about first ten?

I hope you can answer me out of knowledge (i.e. science of Hadeeth) and not your personal thought, as then it must not be held as part of our religion (smile)

Barak Allahu feekum

[Sawtul Islam]

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

My beloved brother,

May Allah reward you for your effort trying answering the question of our beloved brother.

However, I am very much intersted to know on which basis you have generated such view about contradiction. Thus, would you kindly, May Allah reward you, inform me:

why did you say that the Hadeeth that mention the first 10 ayaat is the one that contradict the other two narraions that states first 3 and last ten ayaat?

why is it not the other way around? Like, why did not you say; the narration that says first 3 and last ten contradict the narration about first ten?

I hope you can answer me out of knowledge (i.e. science of Hadeeth) and not your personal thought, as then it must not be held as part of our religion (smile)

Barak Allahu feekum

wa alaykumussalam wr wb

I dont think its even possible to explain the contradiction using Science of Hadith. I said the statements made in the Hadith contradict, so I cant go into the isnad or anything like that to explain this.


As for why the "first 10" contradicts the "first 3" it is because if we have to read the first 10 then the Prophet (saw) would have had no reason to say "first 3".

Why say "first 3" and leave out the other 7? If he said "first 3" then he could not have said "first 10" as the first 10 includes the first 3 so saying "first 10" would have been enough and there was no need for him to ever say "first 3" if we should read the first 10.

However if he said first 3, he could still have said "Last 10", because the last 10 verses do not include the first 3 verses. So it would make sense to say "first 3" and "last 10" - but he could not have said "first 3" and "first 10".

So the mistake was made by those who said "first 10".

[Tisatashar]

Regarding 3 verses or 10, I say if you say ten then you're covering two hadiths with one shout.

Verse 4 & 5 to me, as an ex "Xian" seems pertinent. 'Those who say Allah has a son' (shirk fitnah). The xians base their Jesus=God line by saying the bible points here, there and everywhere, to a man-god, starting with Emmanuel - 'god with us'. All the Dajjal has to do is show that the verses are about him & not Jesus and the xians will swoon.

Verse 7 has a hadith with a similar warning, describing the Dajjal's fitna.

As for the Cave, we are told to 'run for our lives' from the Dajjal's fitna - do not approach him (from hadith can't find right now).

[Ayman bin Khaled]

wa alaykumussalam wr wb

I dont think its even possible to explain the contradiction using Science of Hadith. I said the statements made in the Hadith contradict, so I cant go into the isnad or anything like that to explain this.

My dear beloved brother,

I purposly emphasised on the point "speak out of knowledge and not based on personal thoughts" because I knew that what you have said was not based on knowledge but on what seemed to appear for you. That is why your reasoning was fragile and weak since it was not based on any Islamic scientific principle.

The matter can be resolved only through science of hadeeth and through the Isnaad of the narrations and that is known to every student of knowledge. It is easy to show you how the narrations that mention the last ten and first 3 ayaat are the ones that contradict the first 10 ayaat and not the other way around. Yet, If i would like to reconcile, I still would not come with what you have said. That is why, no scholar ever said what you have just said in your post (smile)

You should know, May Allah betsows His Mercy on you, that since I know it is an open matter, I only said in my first reply "The most correct view is that the virtue results from the first ten ayaat of Sura Al-Kahf.".

General Advice for everyone including myself:

Do not be tempted to offer your personal thoughts as statements in matters of religion, especially when they are not spoken out of knowledge. Speak out in form of questions and inquiries as this save you the criticism and have the intention to learn through asking and to challange as only one with knowledge can challange another with knowledge.

Barak Allahu feekum

Your young brother,

Ayman bin Khaled

Wallahu A'lam

[Sawtul Islam]

My dear beloved brother,

I purposly emphasised on the point "speak out of knowledge and not based on personal thoughts" because I knew that what you have said was not based on knowledge but on what seemed to appear for you. That is why your reasoning was fragile and weak since it was not based on any Islamic scientific principle.

The matter can be resolved only through science of hadeeth and through the Isnaad of the narrations and that is known to every student of knowledge. It is easy to show you how the narrations that mention the last ten and first 3 ayaat are the ones that contradict the first 10 ayaat and not the other way around. Yet, If i would like to reconcile, I still would not come with what you have said. That is why, no scholar ever said what you have just said in your post (smile)

You should know, May Allah betsows His Mercy on you, that since I know it is an open matter, I only said in my first reply "The most correct view is that the virtue results from the first ten ayaat of Sura Al-Kahf.".

General Advice for everyone including myself:

Do not be tempted to offer your personal thoughts as statements in matters of religion, especially when they are not spoken out of knowledge. Speak out in form of questions and inquiries as this save you the criticism and have the intention to learn through asking and to challange as only one with knowledge can challange another with knowledge.

Barak Allahu feekum

Your young brother,

Ayman bin Khaled

Wallahu A'lam

wa alaykumussalam

You asked me to prove that the Hadith about "first 10" contradicts the one that says "first 3". How is it even possible to prove Contradiction using the "science of Hadith"??

Science of Hadith doesnt prove contradiction, it simply gives possible reasons for contradictions, for example when there is a contradiction then based on the science of Hadith we may say one is weak/Dhaif and the other is Authentic/Sahih, so the one which is weak should be ignored and the other is correct.

However in this case all versions are authentic, and the contradiction is obviously due to a mistake made by the narrators and not an intentional lie.

So the question here does not even relate to the Isnad.


If you say that the Hadith that says "last ten" is wrong and the one that says "first ten" is correct, then you also have to explain why another Hadith says "first three" instead of "first ten".

Regarding 3 verses or 10, I say if you say ten then you're covering two hadiths with one shout.

Verse 4 & 5 to me, as an ex "Xian" seems pertinent. 'Those who say Allah has a son' (shirk fitnah). The xians base their Jesus=God line by saying the bible points here, there and everywhere, to a man-god, starting with Emmanuel - 'god with us'. All the Dajjal has to do is show that the verses are about him & not Jesus and the xians will swoon.

Verse 7 has a hadith with a similar warning, describing the Dajjal's fitna.

As for the Cave, we are told to 'run for our lives' from the Dajjal's fitna - do not approach him (from hadith can't find right now).

There is no evidence that the Dajjal would claim to be the "son of God", the Hadith just say he would claim to be God.

There are other verses that may relate to this (such as about the Pharaoh claiming to be Rabb/Lord) but those verses are not in the first 10 of Surah al-Kahf (or anywhere else in that Surah).

And saying we must stay away from the Dajjal relates to the people of cave is a stretch, since there is no mention of caves in the Ahaadith about Dajjal (also note that Muslims will actually fight against Dajjal).

[Ayman bin Khaled]

You asked me to prove that the Hadith about "first 10" contradicts the one that says "first 3". How is it even possible to prove Contradiction using the "science of Hadith"??

Once again, I am asking, are you speaking out of knowledg eor personal thoughts?

keep in mind, barak Allahu feek, that you have not proven anything yet! you have just said what you think based on your own reasoning.

Science of Hadith doesnt prove contradiction, it simply gives possible reasons for contradictions, for example when there is a contradiction then based on the science of Hadith we may say one is weak/Dhaif and the other is Authentic/Sahih, so the one which is weak should be ignored and the other is correct.

Did you ever studu science of Hadeeth under scholars? As your words tells me that you are not familiar with science of hadeeth!

By the way, to save you the trouble, the text of the three didfferent narrations do not contradict each other!

However in this case all versions are authentic, and the contradiction is obviously due to a mistake made by the narrators and not an intentional lie.

See, here is the issue! Speaking without knowledge is harmful enough to have one say what must not say.

Could you please advise me how would all narrations be authentic when you say that some of them have mistakes because of some of their narrators?

Furthermore, can you please show me how did you find and concluded that the narration of first ten ayaat is the wrong one and which narroter did make the mistake and how did you find that out?

So the question here does not even relate to the Isnad.

It is all about the Isnaad! Please do not insist on views that have no basis from religion, barak Allahu feekum!!

If you say that the Hadith that says "last ten" is wrong and the one that says "first ten" is correct, then you also have to explain why another Hadith says "first three" instead of "first ten".

I said, most correct view and that is a term that scholars use to point out a valid different point view to exist. Besides, no one asked me to show why that is wrong and why this is correct although I do not think it is needed since I know its open matter that people shoul not busy themselves with. Yet, if you like me to explain, then I am happy to do so when you ask in a manner that shows you ask to learn and not to challange. I am not into win talks or challange laypeople. I have not learnt my religion for this purpose and I ask Allah to forgive me for this continous replies I made.

Akhi, wallah, It is very simple:

If you are a student of knowledge then show me how did you came out with such odd view and on what basis of religion. Please do not say something is from religion based on what you think it is.

If you are a layperson then admit that you are and seek knowledge as we all do as that is a virtue and not a shame.

If you know a scholar who adope the view that you mentioned and you did taqleed with him on it, then advise us about him and we surely will excuse you for this and praise you for it.

Barak Allahu feekum

[Abul Hasan]

Sheikh Ayman, is there a set time when we should recite the first 10 ayaat of Surah al-Kahf? For example, after Fajr and after Maghrib (i.e. during our morning and evening adhkaar?)